Political fallout from the Gilad Farm destruction continued today - at least until word of the terrorist bus attack was received. Labor and National Religious Party members each demanded the firing of the other's leader - Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer of Labor and Infrastructure Minister Effie Eitam of the NRP. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and angry Labor Ministers were set to meet today, but the meeting was postponed until tomorrow, possibly in order to allow tempers to cool down. Labor is upset because they claim the government didn’t support the Defense Ministry’s efforts to evacuate the outpost. The NRP is considering pulling out of the government in the wake of the Sabbath desecration leading up to the dismantling of the Gilad outpost.
While the Labor Party demands the firing of Minister Eitam for his insulting remarks towards Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg this morning called the people at Gilad "Jewish Hamas." Meir Indor of the Terror Victims Association said in response that just a few months ago, Burg made great efforts to appear before terrorists in Ramallah. Just two days ago, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres publicly denigrated the Yesha Rabbis Council, blaming them for incitement and worse. Agricultural Minister Shalom Simchon (Labor) did not relate to Peres' and Burg's remarks, yet said that the actions of the right-wing over the past 48 hours "endanger the existence of the State of Israel."
While the Labor Party demands the firing of Minister Eitam for his insulting remarks towards Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer, Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg this morning called the people at Gilad "Jewish Hamas." Meir Indor of the Terror Victims Association said in response that just a few months ago, Burg made great efforts to appear before terrorists in Ramallah. Just two days ago, Foreign Minister Shimon Peres publicly denigrated the Yesha Rabbis Council, blaming them for incitement and worse. Agricultural Minister Shalom Simchon (Labor) did not relate to Peres' and Burg's remarks, yet said that the actions of the right-wing over the past 48 hours "endanger the existence of the State of Israel."